[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the July 18, 2011 edition of the Army Times –

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting Operation New
Dawn in Iraq, confirmed by the Defense Department from July 1, 2011
through July 7, 2011:

Army Spc. Nathan R. Beyers, 24, of Littleton, Colorado; assigned to 145th
Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Post
Falls, Idaho.

Army Spc. Nicholas W. Newby, 20, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; assigned to
145th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team,
Post Falls, Idaho.

Army Sgt. Steven L. Talamantez, 34, of Laredo, Texas; assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

July 1, 2011 – July 7, 2011
Killed: 3; Wounded in action: 12

March 19, 2003 – July 7, 2011
Killed: 4,461; wounded in action: 32,143

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting Operation
Enduring Freedom combat operations in Afghanistan, confirmed by the
Defense Department from July 1, 2011 through July 7, 2011:

Army Sgt. Nicanor Amper IV, 36, of San Jose, California; assigned to the
6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry
Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Marine Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Dodds Dudley, 29, of Tega Cay, South Carolina;
assigned to Marine Air Group 26, 2nd Marine Air Wing, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville,
North Carolina.

Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Garcia, 27, of Bossier City, Louisiana;
assigned to the 63rd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group (Explosive
Ordnance Disposal), 20th Support Command (CBRNE), Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Marine Lance Cpl. Norberto Mendez-Hernandez, 22, of Logan, Utah; assigned
to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp
Pendleton, California.

Army Spc. Rafael A. Nieves Jr., 22, of Albany, New York; assigned to 1st
Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st
Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Terryl L. Pasker, 39, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; assigned
to the 334th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th
Infantry Division, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Army Spc. Jordan C. Schumann, 24, Port Saint Lucie, Florida; assigned to
the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st
Theater Sustainment Command, Hohenfels, Germany.

Army Sgt. Christopher P. Soderlund, 23, of Pineville, Louisiana; assigned
to 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Army Spc. Preston J. Suter, 22, Sandy, Utah; assigned to the 709th
Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater
Sustainment Command, Hohenfels, Germany.

Army Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Throckmorton, 28, of Battle Creek Michigan;
assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police
Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Hohenfels, Germany.

July 1, 2011 – July 7, 2011
Killed: 10; Wounded in action: 164

October 10, 2001 – July 7, 2011
Killed: 1,642; Wounded in action: 12,470

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated
(as of July 5, 2011)

http://www.defense.gov/news/d20110705ngr.pdf

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And the beat goes on . . .

“Bring 'em Home"
http://www.tomandrodna.com/Songs/Bring_em_Home.mp3

"If you love this land of the free
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Bring them back from overseas
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

It will make the politicians sad, I know
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
They wanna tangle with their foe
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

They wanna test their grand theories
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
With the blood of you and me
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

Now we'll give no more brave young lives
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
For the gleam in someone else's eyes
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

The men will cheer and the boys will shout
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah and we will all turn out
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

The church bells will ring with joy
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
To welcome our darlin' girls and boys
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

We will lift our voice and sound
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah, when Johnny comes marching home
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home."

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
SFC, US Army (Retired)
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

 -- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.